Minnesota @ UND Saturday GameDay Thread

[Oldguy]

Nice to see that this team can do "what they decide to", meaning that, when they get focused, they can perform against the best.  Last night, I think they lost their focus for most of the 2nd & 3rd.  Tonight, encouraging.

[RedFrog]

2 hours ago, SiouxFanSince1990 said:

Can anyone else verify that the players DID NOT shake hands with Motzko and his staff?

I noticed too that our guys didn't shake the hands of the Minny coaches, but shook hands with the linesman after finishing the player line.  Not all of Minny's coaches were there either though, at least not from my vantage point.

Also, didn't like the stick salute on a split.  Was surprised by it actually and commented that I figured it would be a topic of discussion after.

Edited October 22, 2023 by RedFrog
Stick salute comment

[thUNDer]

The salute happened, whether we liked it or not so can we move on? Asking for a friend.

[tnt]

They said it was a salute to the fans, and the way our fans yo yo, I’m not so sure our fans are worthy.  It kind of gets me that the stick salute has become some sacred thing when it was copied from none other than Minnesota.  I think they have done salutes without sweeps in the past as well. Maybe we should create our own thing and have the players ride a broom down the ice, then doing it without a sweep would really look egregious.

[thUNDer]

And awesome job on the singing of the National Anthem Mr. Dave Berger!

[siouxfaninseattle]

28 minutes ago, tnt said:

They said it was a salute to the fans, and the way our fans yo yo, I’m not so sure our fans are worthy.  It kind of gets me that the stick salute has become some sacred thing when it was copied from none other than Minnesota.  I think they have done salutes without sweeps in the past as well. Maybe we should create our own thing and have the players ride a broom down the ice, then doing it without a sweep would really look egregious.

I don't know if you are talking about the goofer players doing that several years ago. Through These Doors may not have been around yet - it might still have been Brad Miller doing his thing. minnie was trying to do some kind of video and they had three players riding stick ponies while talking to the camera. Gotta be the most embarrassing thing ever. Hilarious! Hey, @redfrog can you find it?

[brianvf]

Seems a bit more optimism after tonight.   
Close for MN made a ton of point blank saves tonight...it could have been a much more lopsided score.
Great to get the win and finish our B10 OOC record at 2-1.  Those wins over UW and UMN will be great for PWR down the road.

Moving on to Mankato.  Got to keep that momentum rolling from tonight and play similar. 
MSUM is sitting at 2-2...swept a somewhat struggling SCSU team and got swept by UMass.  They allowed a PPG each night against UMass...maybe we can finally break that seal and get the PP rolling again.

[tnt]

15 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Seems a bit more optimism after tonight.   
Close for MN made a ton of point blank saves tonight...it could have been a much more lopsided score.
Great to get the win and finish our B10 OOC record at 2-1.  Those wins over UW and UMN will be great for PWR down the road.

Moving on to Mankato.  Got to keep that momentum rolling from tonight and play similar. 
MSUM is sitting at 2-2...swept a somewhat struggling SCSU team and got swept by UMass.  They allowed a PPG each night against UMass...maybe we can finally break that seal and get the PP rolling again.

Got to put a big rivalry win to the side and sweep Minnesota State, so we have momentum going into BU series.

[burd]

Two of our big scoring guns, Blake and Gaber, seem to be among the biggest celebrators when others score, which is an intangible I like.  

[Oxbow6]

Lots of new faces on this team but through 4 games Ludvig is the get this team needed.

[Oxbow6]

Emerson needs a consistent spot in the lineup. 

Strinden needs more ice time.

IMO those two on wings with Schmaltz at the center spot is a great 2 way 3rd line.

Schmaltz was moved and was centering his line with McLaughlin on a wing after about a period and change.

Wiebe took a big step last night. Thought he was terrific.

The big guns need to bury the puck. 

 

[Parkers Pros]

Minnesota is for real. Close is as good as advertised and their speed is ridiculous!  That being said, I am sure that’s the same thing they are thinking about us. And I think we’ll only get better!  Great atmosphere great win! Loved the salute. Everyone stayed and expected it…

[shep]

Not sure if this is the place to request this, but I want to see the Hrcac one more shift. Did not see it on YouTube.

[Goon]

10 hours ago, siouxforce19 said:

he definitely came back because he took a penalty after that blocked shot. 

He tried coming back but must have been pretty banged up. 

Quote

 

Bennett Zmolek, UND's time on ice leader through the first three games, was injured blocking a shot and didn't come back.

"It was a hard shot," Berry said. "If anybody knows Bennett Zmolek, he tried to come back, and if you don't come back in the game, he must have been really hurting. He's played through that a little bit this year."

 

 

[jk]

Key takeaway for me is that the two teams are pretty even, which is a big step up from last year, when they decidedly weren't.  Last year's split was a gift from the hockey gods, as MN had the puck much of the weekend, but this year UND matched them in possession and chances.  

[Kevin G]

Just a few incredible thoughts:

• Albrecht was really impressive amongst the forwards last night. He hustles so hard. Plays physical. Like old-time Sioux hockey.
• Zmolek, when he was out there, was really impressive amongst the defenseman. Please heal fast.
• Persson. So glad he portalled up from the beaches of Miami.
• There was total commitment in the defensive zone. So many sticks in passing lanes to break up legitimate scoring opportunities for Minny. That's how this team needs to play if it wants to reach its potential. Loved it. 
• PP is total barf right now. Like, it's gonna take all year to get back to decent percentage. But the silver lining: nowhere to go but up.
• None of the freshmen defensemen look out of place.

[thUNDer]

Minny will go as far as their 26 yr old Canadian will take them. He should be put on the Mexican border, amazing!

GPL abound with Kudos to our announcers & Midco production in general

[Oxbow6]

5 minutes ago, Kevin G said:

Just a few incredible thoughts:

• Albrecht was really impressive amongst the forwards last night. He hustles so hard. Plays physical. Like old-time Sioux hockey.
• Zmolek, when he was out there, was really impressive amongst the defenseman. Please heal fast.
• Persson. So glad he portalled up from the beaches of Miami.
• There was total commitment in the defensive zone. So many sticks in passing lanes to break up legitimate scoring opportunities for Minny. That's how this team needs to play if it wants to reach its potential. Loved it. 
• PP is total barf right now. Like, it's gonna take all year to get back to decent percentage. But the silver lining: nowhere to go but up.
• None of the freshmen defensemen look out of place.

As bad as Albrecht was Friday he was as good last night. Kudos to him. 

[Godsmack]

59 minutes ago, jk said:

Key takeaway for me is that the two teams are pretty even, which is a big step up from last year, when they decidedly weren't.  Last year's split was a gift from the hockey gods, as MN had the puck much of the weekend, but this year UND matched them in possession and chances.  

Agreed. Alex reminded the viewer this weekend about how UND was only 70 seconds away from sweeping the Gophers last year but if we’re being honest with ourselves, Minnesota dominated play for much of that weekend. If not for cashing in on timely power plays and DeRitter saving our bacon, things probably would’ve been different.

This year’s UND team looks faster, deeper offensively and much more responsible defednzively.

[Godsmack]

43 minutes ago, Kevin G said:

Just a few incredible thoughts:

• Albrecht was really impressive amongst the forwards last night. He hustles so hard. Plays physical. Like old-time Sioux hockey.
• Zmolek, when he was out there, was really impressive amongst the defenseman. Please heal fast.
• Persson. So glad he portalled up from the beaches of Miami.
• There was total commitment in the defensive zone. So many sticks in passing lanes to break up legitimate scoring opportunities for Minny. That's how this team needs to play if it wants to reach its potential. Loved it. 
• PP is total barf right now. Like, it's gonna take all year to get back to decent percentage. But the silver lining: nowhere to go but up.
• None of the freshmen defensemen look out of place.

To your fourth point about defensive commitment and sticks in lanes, was that Schmaltz who got a critical poke check on a Gopher player in the dying seconds of last night’s game that prevented them from getting a grade A shot off? Whoever it was, it was a huge defensive play! 

[Godsmack]

Any chatter from Gopher fans about the officiating last night? I think we had 6 power plays to their 2. Lots of tripping calls made. I do know the Gophers got away with a hook on Blake during a second period UND power play that would’ve given us a 5 on 3. It was so obvious too and right in front of the ref. Stick up high around Blake’s neck area as he was marching toward the net with the puck. 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

The difference between last years series and this is I didn’t see the panic in the d zone with this team. So many times last season a defender would get pressured and throw the pass to the point for the opponents defender or worse up the middle. There’s a lot more taking time to find an outlet pass this year. Also, my buddy made the point that zmolek was the only guy consistently getting pucks through traffic, he’s gonna be fun to watch I think. Keep in mind he didn’t play all last season so he’s still finding his legs. 

[Godsmack]

Clearly this fan didn’t bother to check and see that Justin Close is 2 months older than Hunter Johannes. Both are 25 years old. 

[Godsmack]

Trolling GPL, Gopher fans have pegged Blake as the next Robbie Earl. Lots of comments about how he takes dives and how that won’t work at the NHL level. Fun reading. 

[siouxforce19]

22 minutes ago, Godsmack said:

Any chatter from Gopher fans about the officiating last night? I think we had 6 power plays to their 2. Lots of tripping calls made. I do know the Gophers got away with a hook on Blake during a second period UND power play that would’ve given us a 5 on 3. It was so obvious too and right in front of the ref. Stick up high around Blake’s neck area as he was marching toward the net with the puck. 

Yes they are complaining about it. Every one of their penalties was a dive apparently… 

They thought on Friday that when Logan Britt was cross checked into the goal post that that was a dive. Which is absolutely ridiculous.